Michelle Kirby

Michelle Kirby

Published: November 04, 2011 6:00 AM

Michelle Kirby

Age: 37

Occupation: Administrative assistant, Canada Revenue Agency

Family status: Married with two school-aged children

Political experience: Candidate for Oak Bay council in 2008, former vice-president and director of the Community Association of Oak Bay, former second vice-president of Willows elementary school Parent Advisory Council

Lived in the community: Seven years

What is your single biggest issue this election?

Aging infrastructure and the updating of the Official Community Plan.

How do you hope to solve it?

After 16 years, we have an opportunity to re-envision Oak Bay as a leader in sustainability, while keeping our community vibrant, by ensuring it is still affordable for young families and seniors. I would like to have each councillor assigned to a neighbourhood as their direct liaison to council, so each unique area of Oak Bay can decide how they want to develop over time.

What has council done well this term?

Supported a ban on cosmetic pesticides, supported the community association’s request to get involved with the Oak Bay High redevelopment project.

What would you do on council to improve it?

I will work to have council modernize it’s business practices. Through an improved community connection and dialogue via the internet and in-person meetings outside Council chambers, we can build consensus on issues, and work together. Over the last three years, I’ve seen too many issues errupt into divisive angry debates in council chambers. Let’s build a plan together, and prevent those conflicts by sharing of information and collaboration with citizens.